“PERSONAL SYMBOL – CIRCLE DISTORTION”
Jelena Simić was born in 1995 in Blace. She completed her undergraduate and master’s studies at the Faculty of Arts in Niš in the class of Prof. Bratislava Bašić. She is the recipient of the “Diploma to the Best Graduate Student” award from the Faculty of Arts in Niš for the 2020-21 academic year. She is currently pursuing her doctoral studies at the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad. She is a member of ULUS and SULUV. She has participated in around 40 collective exhibitions and has organized six solo exhibitions in Niš, Vranje, Novi Sad, Belgrade, Vrbas and Opovo.
The exhibition “Personal Symbol – Circle Distortion” is closely connected to and inspired by nature, from which the artist accumulates and draws inspiration. Distortion of the Circle, as a symbol, is represented in almost all works, occupying a central place in the composition along with abstract forms. In her works through drawing, graphics, collage and sculpture, the circle transformed into an ellipse connects the entire story, like an invisible thread, building a picture of reduced coloristic value. She uses color selectively as an accent (red and blue). On large surfaces that calm the entire composition, the work is partially divided by areas of applied textile or paper surfaces. By using them, the author emphasizes rusticity and texture, and the visual art itself is richer. We notice the ease in the expression of strong drawing parts that transition into the destruction of the material, by sewing, stabbing, tearing, hatching, gluing, scratching the surface of the painting or drawing, Jelena in this way indirectly suggests and warns of the destruction of nature by man. While on the contrary, by using natural non-painting materials: cotton, jute, papyrus, she explores their artistic, conceptual and communicative powers. The symbolism of the entire project or the artist’s message is actually an appeal to the excessive use of plastic waste instead of natural ecological materials. The ellipse is a symbol, a bridge between the conscious and the unconscious. Her communication with nature is continuous, she transposes it into a drawing, painting, sculpture. She transfers her empathy, experiences, feelings to the canvas through line, surface and even color, in her own unique way, she boldly depicts everything she feels, sees and what surrounds her.
The exhibition can be visited by the public until August 3, 2025.